Monday, March 19, 2012

Jesus 2

Righteousness is how Jesus transforms us. When we become righteous there is a transformation that occurs from the inside out. Your heart melts, especially when you see unbelievers and people who are lost. The symptoms are clear to others and are beneficial to those around you. One of the very first symptoms is very simple but powerful: being different. People will notice there is something different about you and you will begin to manifest a certain glow. Another sign which the world actually heavily desires is confidence: true confidence. Knowing that the Almighty is on your side comes with a true measure of confidence and boldness. Unlike the world a believer's confidence is in God and not ourselves (the flesh). The confidence in the Lord is the only confidence that shouldn't belittle people. Along with confidence should come humility which signifies that we are beneath God and nothing without Him. Another symptom of being Saved is having clarity in your life. I knew when I wasn't saved it may have seemed like I knew where I was going but I was lost. I had no direction and couldn't see past the nebulous future and dark clouds. Another sign is putting other people before yourself. When you deny yourself and submit to God's will it will become very obvious in terms of how selfless your behavior is: tutoring people who need it, staying up late to help a friend study for a test, and helping people move. All these things were sacrificial where I had to give up my comfort to do what God has called me to do!

The ability to change your character has to be Jesus (it is so powerful). I don't understand how it happens but it is supernatural: you begin to do things you never did before: feeding the homeless, speaking to drug addicts, giving your last dollar to the poor, and tutoring people for free etc. You have a burden for the Lost and broken. Your heart begins to cry out for the outcasts, the ones nobody wants to interact with. Then a supernatural peace sets in. Also your lifestyle changes. The trails and things that affected you, don't affect you right now. Also your lifestyle changes: the things you viewed as significant and valuable are no longer valuable. The things of this world are no longer valuable, they don't matter as much. The emptiness in your heart is no longer fulfilled by the new girlfriend, or alcohol/drug abuse or poker addiction. As a person that is saved there is a strong desire to worship and seek the Lord at all costs.

You display an earnest cry to the Lord and ask Him to use you for His glory and Kingdom. The Lord gives you the ability to stand before Him with boldness and present every petition and cast down every burden at his feet. In addition we will have power and supernatural ability to conquer sin. Before we weren't able to give up premarital sex but now we are fully capable: because the Holy Spirit which is promised . Furthermore the Lord is able to deliver you out of any dangerous situation, whether it be a train wreck, gang fight, or being surrounded by wild animals. He will answer prayers that weren't answered before. Hurdles that once seemed insurmountable they are now able to overcome. The ability to focus on the Lord and not get distracted is another sign. One of the most amazing things about being saved is the power to forgive. Many people walk around with bitterness and strife from previous wounds because of the deep level of unforgiveness that has taken root in their hearts. The ability to do this is done through the power of the Holy Ghost. Allellulia. Patience, gentleness, faith, goodness, joy, peace, longsuffering, meekness, and temperance are all other signs of righteousness and also fruit of the Spirit. Jesus says you will know the by their fruit (disciples).He was saying that a Christian has fruit of the Spirit.

Love is the most important fruit. He also said by this will ye know that ye are my disciples, by their love. Not only the love that we have in the Body of Christ but for nonbelievers and others we don't know. John 8:32 Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. We are new creatures in Christ and because Jesus died was buried and rose again, our sins are forgiven and we can have a relationship with God, enter the Holies of Holies, and worship and meet God in a powerful way. Also we have eternal life so after our physical death we can live in heaven for eternity and worship around the clock. Apart from all this we have the very special opportunity to impact the world around us, touch lives, transform souls, restore dead dreams, inspire, heal emotional scars and wounds on people's hearts through Jesus and finally change our generation and win it for Christ.